Wardrobe having illuminated mirrors



Oct. 13, 1910 R. a. HUBER 3, 3,67

IARDRQBE HAVING ILLUIINATED MIRRORS Filed Oct. 16. 196B 7 J J v 5 i W [1. v 4 M 5 Mob/vars United States Patent 3,533,671 WARDROBE HAVING ILLUMINATED MIRRORS Richard R. Huber, 853 Riucon Lane, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. 90274 Filed Oct. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 768,131 Int. Cl. G02b 5/08 U.S. Cl. 312227 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wardrobe comprising a closure defining a clothes storage space having a door opening covered by a pair of doors hinged at their outer edges. A pair of mirrors are mounted on the interior of the respective doors and lights are supported over each of the mirrors for effecting illumination thereof. Electrical circuitry is provided for automatically energizing the lights when the doors are opened whereby a person opening the wardrobe doors may position such doors to orient the mirrors for convenient viewing of his back.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to wardrobes.

Description of prior art There are no wardrobes known to applicant which include doors having mirrors mounted tbereonfor convenient positioning to dispose the mirrors in confronting relationship for convenient viewing of ones back and, further, include illuminating means for automatically illuminating the mirrors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized by a wardrobe having its door opening covered by a pair of doors hinged at their outer edges and mounting respective mirrors which may be positioned for confronting one another. Lights are provided for automatically illuminating the mirrors when the doors are opened.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the wardrobe of present invention includes a closure 11 defining a doorway 13 covered by a pair of doors 15 and 17 which are hinged from the closure at their outer edges. Mirrors 21 and 23 are mounted on the interior of the respective doors 15 and 17 and are illuminated by fluorescent lights 25 and 27 (FIG. 5) when the doors are opened. Thus, the doors 15 and 17 may be opened, disposing the mirrors 21 and 23 3,533,671 Patented Oct. 13 1970 "ice in a confronting orientation so a person positioning himself therebetween may conveniently view his back.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wardrobe closure 11 is of conventional construction and includes a horizontal rod 31 for receiving coat hangers and a hat shelf 33 for storage of paraphernalia such as hats and purses. An opening is formed in the ceiling of the closure 11 and a fresh air housing 35 is connected therewith and projects above the roof 37 of the house for receiving fresh air. A jalousie-type damper 39 covers the lower end of the housing 35 and includes a handle 40 for opening such damper to admit fresh air to the wardrobe. A blower fan 41 is supported in the housing 35 and is driven by an electric motor 43 to draw fresh air into the wardrobes.

The fluorescent lights 25 and 27 are connected in parallel and have switches 47 and 49 in series therewith. The switches 47 and 49 are of the conventional plungertype and are biased to their closed positions by respective springs 51 and 53. The switches 47 and 49 are mounted in the frame of the doorway 13 in alignment with the rear edges 55 and 57 of the respective doors 15 and 17. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, a manual switch 61 is connected in parallel with the switches 47 and 49 and in series with the fan motor 43 whereby such motor may be actuated without actuating the lights 47 and 49.

The wardrobe shown in FIG. 6 is essentially the same as that shown in FIG. 1 except that the doors generally designated 71 and 73, are French doors, each including vertical halves, or wings, 75 and 77 connected together by respective hinges 79 and 81. Mirrors 83 and 85 are mounted on the exterior of the wings 77 for disposition in confronting relationship when wings 75 and 77 are folded to open the doors 71 and 73 whereby a person may position himself therebetween and conveniently view his back. Lights 91 and 93 are supported over the respective mirrors 83 and 85 and are automatically energized when the doors 71 and 73 are opened.

In operation, the wardrobe shown in FIG. 1 will normally have its doors 15 and 17 closed and the lights 25 and 27 will be off. When either of the doors 15 or 17 are opened, the associated light 25 or 27 will be energized to illuminate the wardrobe and the associated mirror 21 or 23 for convenient viewing by a viewer. When both doors 15 and 17 are opened both switches 47 and 57 will be closed to energize the respective lights 25 and 27 to illuminate the respective mirrors 21 and 23. The doors 15 and 17 can then be opened to position the mirrors 21 and 23 in the confronting relationship shown in FIG. 4 whereby the viewer may position himself therebetween for convenient viewing of his back.

It will be noted that whenever either of the doors 15 or 17 are opened and the associated switch 47 or 49 is closed, the fan motor 43 will be energized to pull fresh air into the interior of the wardrobe, thus maintaining a fresh atmosphere to avoid the musty and mildew odors frequently associated with a poorly ventilated wardrobe and preventing moth and silver fish infestation. It will be clear that the switch 61 may be manually closed to operate the fan 41 irrespective of the lights 25 and 27.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the wardrobe of present invention provides convenient means for a person removing clothing therefrom to view both his front and back to scrutinize his attire. The mirrors are automatically illuminated to avoid the insufficient lighting frequently associated with bedrooms. Further, the wardrobe is automatically ventilated by forced air wherever the doors thereto are opened to exhaust stale air out the doorway opening, thus maintaining a fresh atmosphere in the wardrobe.

Various modifications may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combination wardrobe and illuminated mirror apparatus comprising:

a closure defining a clothes storage space having a door opening;

a pair of doors hingedly supported at their edges from said closure for normally covering said door opening and pivotable to respective open positions;

a pair of mirrors mounted on said respective doors to be carried with said doors as they are opened to thereby be disposed in angled confronting relationship so a viewer may position himself therebetween to view his back;

light means for illuminating said mirrors when they are in said angled confronting relationship; and

electrical circuitry including a first switch responsive to opening of one of said doors for energizing said light means whereby said mirrors will be automatically illuminated by opening of said doors and said mirrors may be positioned in the desired angled confronting relationship solely by positioning said doors in the appropriate angled relationship with respect to one another.

2. A combination wardrobe and mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said light means includes a pair of lights mounted on said respective doors.

3. A combination wardrobe and mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said doors each include a pair of vertical sections connected together by hinge means whereby each of said doors may be folded on themselves to dispose said mirrors in confronting relationships. 4. A combination wardrobe and mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said lights are connected in parallel and said first switch is in series with one of said lights and responsive to opening of one of said doors to actuate said one of said lights; and said electrical circuit includes a second switch in series with the other of said pair of lights and responsive to the opening of the other of said pair of doors to actuate the other of said pair of lights. 5. A combination wardrobe and illuminated mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said mirrors are mounted on the sides of said doors which face inwardly toward said storage space when said doors are closed to thereby conceal said mirrors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,549 9/1906 Garfinkle 312-227 X 1,078,502 11/1913 Herrmann 312226 X 1,859,592 5/1932 Marchand 350305 X 2,807,192 9/1957 Von Berg 3l2-227 X 3,202,470 8/1965 Lage 312-227 3,378,058 4/1968 Matyas 160206 X 3,403,613 10/1968 Huber 20061.71 X

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 03 05 

